Artificial marble



' Patented May 24, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. BATES, OF GBEENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ARTIFICIAL MARBLE.

80 Drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of artificial marble and the like, as brick, stone, or tiling having the appearance of natural marble or onyx.

The object of my invention is in the production of a marble like substance which is used for building purposes, preferably for interionwork, also in place of slate for roofing material. The composition of matter possesses the properties of lightness, and capable of being readily molded. It hardens without the application of heat. In practice it has been found that the hardening is com pleted within seven or eight hours. It is also non-combustible.

The appearance of the finished surface as it leaves the mold is highly polished thus obviatin the necessity of polishing the substance a r it leaves the mold.

The composition consists of a mixture of calcine magnesite, powdered asbestos, owdered alum, hydrated lime, casein, pow ered salt peter, powdered bonnet glue, sand, or

' ground stone for the base, and suitable mineral coloring matter.

In preparing the composition, the ingredlents are used in substantiallythe followmg dproportions: calcine magnesite, 5 oun powderedasbestos, 1 pound; powered alum, 1 ounce; hydrated lime, 2 ounces; casein, 2 pounds; owdered salt peter, 1 ounce; and owdered glue 2 ounces together with a su cient quantity of sand or ground stone to form a suitable paste.

The composition of matter is formed by first placing two ounces of the powdered glue 1n two quarts of water with sand or ground stone forming the base. The other ngredients are mixed in the proportions 40 mentioned. The alum is for the purpose of imparting suflicient hardness to the composition of matter. The powdered asbestos imparts lightness and renders the composition fire proof and prevents brittleness and less liable to break. The hydrated lime possesses the property of hardening in the atmosphere. The sand or ground stone may be of different colors .for changing the general appearance of the finished article. A mineral coloring matter is preferably em- Application filed September 4, 1926. Serial 1%. 133,730.

ployed. If desired, pieces of pearl, or thin substances may be molded in place.

The calcined magnesite (MgCO is obvi- -.ously reduced to MgO and ()0 gas which is liberated when it is burned. The function of the calcined magnesite is an inert substance and simply furnishes the greater or bulk portion of the composition. The function of the casein and he is for the purpose of supplying a bindlng element. 60

It is understood that it is not necessa to follow the exact proportions of the various substances mentioned as they may be varied, to suit difi'erent purposes.

The salt peter in the composition apparentl adds to the highly artistic appearance of t e product. -The composition is light, fire proof, attractive in appearance, impervious to water and in general appearance it very closely resembles natural marble or onyx.

What I claim is:

1. A plastic composition adapted to form an artificial marble like substance, comprising a powdered mineral material, asbestos, in' a finely divided form, alum, hydrated lime together with a glue binding substance, a mineral coloring substance, the-whole to be formed as a paste for molding. I

2. A lastic composition adapted to form a marb e like substance for building purposes andthe like in the following proportions comprising calcine' 'magnesite, 'five unds; powdered asbestos, one pound, powered alum, one ounce; hydrated lime, two ounces; casein, two pounds, powdered salt peter, one ounce; a glue solution, two quarts and a base substance consisting of ground stone.

' 3. A plastic composition'designed to be molded for forming an artificial marble like substance, comprising a base of sand, a hardening substance, a mineral like substance, hydrated lime, powdered asbestos, and a glue like substance.

4. A composition of matter for forming a marble like substance, comprising burned magnesite, a powdered non-combustible substance, of low s ecific avity, a hardening substance, a hy ated e, casein, salt pc- 100 ter in small quantities, substance,

as a pasty mass for molding and 5 clal heat.

5. A composition of matter for forming artificial marble, brick, tiling, or the like an adhesive glue'likewhich sets without the application of artifi comprisin a magnesite substance, asbestos, an alum fiardening substance, slaked lime, casein powdered salt peter, a glue binding 1. materIa water and sand to' form a pasty massofa consistency suitable for molding purposes.

HENRY L. BATES. 

